Sean Doolittle saves A's 3-0 win, anointed closer

Updated 11:39 pm, Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Drew Pomeranz had his third straight start of at least five innings without allowing a run.

Drew Pomeranz had his third straight start of at least five innings without allowing a run.

Photo: Will Vragovic, McClatchy-Tribune News Service

Image 2 of 5

Sean Doolittle, who issued his first walk in 31 appearances, was named the A's closer.

Sean Doolittle, who issued his first walk in 31 appearances, was named the A's closer.

Photo: Chris O'Meara, Associated Press

Image 3 of 5

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Drew Pomeranz delivers to the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 20, 2014, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Drew Pomeranz delivers to the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 20, 2014, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Photo: Chris O'Meara, Associated Press

Image 4 of 5

Oakland Athletics' Nick Punto heads for first base on a foul ball off Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 20, 2014, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) less

Oakland Athletics' Nick Punto heads for first base on a foul ball off Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Jake Odorizzi during the fourth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 20, 2014, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP ... more

Photo: Chris O'Meara, Associated Press

Image 5 of 5

Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Sean Doolittle delivers to the Tampa Bay Rays during the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 20, 2014, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Sean Doolittle delivers to the Tampa Bay Rays during the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 20, 2014, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

Photo: Chris O'Meara, Associated Press

Sean Doolittle saves A's 3-0 win, anointed closer

1 / 5

Back to Gallery

St. Petersburg, Fla. --

Drew Pomeranz is the latest revelation in Oakland's rotation, and now the A's look as if they have a full-time closer, to boot.

Pomeranz remained unscored upon in his three starts, throwing another five innings without allowing a run in the A's 3-0 victory over the Rays. Sean Doolittle worked the ninth, earning the save - and afterward, manager Bob Melvin acknowledged that the left-hander is now the team's closer.

"The way things are setting up, he'll be in the closer role," said Melvin, who had not named a full-time closer since Jim Johnson lost the job during the second week of the season.

"It's pretty cool, I guess," Doolittle said with a grin after his third save of the season.

Before $10 million man Johnson was acquired from Baltimore during the offseason, it was widely assumed that Doolittle would be the closer after the A's parted ways with Grant Balfour. He recently signed a long-term deal that does not include major save incentives until 2018-19.

"It's a little bit different when you're trying to nail down the last three outs of a ballgame," Doolittle said, "but more and more I've been able to control that adrenaline and use it to my advantage."

Most important: the continued evolution of his slider to complement his mid-90s fastball. When Doolittle has gone away from using both pitches, as he did at Houston last month, he's gotten in trouble.

On Tuesday, the third-year reliever issued his first walk of 2014 - and first since Aug. 31. His span of 30 consecutive outings without a walk was the longest by an A's pitcher since Dennis Eckersley's 41 in a row from Aug. 17, 1989, to June 10, 1990.

"I think we were all kind of shocked," Melvin said. "I don't want to say I'm glad it's out of the way, but that kind of becomes a thing of its own and at times puts more pressure on you than you need."

Doolittle, who struck out 30 batters this season before issuing his first walk, said a reporter had asked him about the streak in Cleveland, so he knew it would end soon. But Doolittle agreed with Melvin that perhaps it's OK that it did. "Time to come back to earth," he said.

Pomeranz is the A's first pitcher since Ted Lilly in September 2003 to work three consecutive starts of at least five innings without allowing a run, according to stats expert David Feldman.

"He's done an incredible job for us," Doolittle said.

The Rays nearly ended Pomeranz's scoreless string in the third, when they loaded the bases with one out. James Loney singled to open the inning, Yunel Escobar walked and, after a flyout by Jose Molina, Brandon Guyer singled to shallow right. But with Josh Reddick's arm, Loney held at third.

The next batter, Desmond Jennings, hit into an inning-ending double play after starting off ahead in the count 3-0, but Pomeranz kept throwing him sinker after sinker.

The Rays challenged the call at first on Jennings. The play was a close one, but the ruling on the field stood. Pomeranz also induced a double-play ball from Jose Molina to end the fifth, and Luke Gregerson coaxed a double-play grounder from Jennings in the eighth.

Both starting pitchers were coming in on nice rolls. Jake Odorizzi hadn't allowed a run in his previous two starts, covering 11 innings, but the A's broke through with three runs in the second inning. Coco Crisp provided a two-out, two-run double, and John Jaso sent in Crisp with a base hit to center. The A's are now 18-2 when scoring first.

The A's (29-16) are a season-high 13 games over .500 and off to their best start since 1990 (30-15).

Latest from the SFGATE homepage:

Click below for the top news from around the Bay Area and beyond. Sign up for our newsletters to be the first to learn about breaking news and more. Go to 'Sign In' and 'Manage Profile' at the top of the page.